New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TRIAL TRIP OF THE THISTLE.
MERELY TAKING SPIN DOWN THE BAY.
THE SCOTCH CUTTER SAILS WELL AND PRovrs
STIFF, BUT CAPTAIN BARR DOES NOT TEST
HER sPEED-HAs SHE MACHINERY

HER sPEED-HAs SHE MACHINERY
| IN RER KEEL
For thirteen days the Thistle had ridden al
| her anchorage of Tompkinsville, occasionally
tugging gently at the chains which held her fast
like some inpatient but wcll-traincd steed long.
ing to be off. And for thirteen days men wise
in nautical lore and men ignorant of all things
pertaining to the sea had watched her until they
were tired Of looking at her and had exhausted
all speculation and comment about her.
Yesterday Captain Barr and his men treated
the weary watchers to something worth seeing.
The Thistle sailed down the Bay as far as buoy
No. of the point of the Hook and back to her
anchorage. The wind was light from the north.
No attempt was made to get out OF her anything
like the highest speed that she is capable OF.
Wary Captain Barr does not wish to invite criti-
cism and comparisons by test of that sort yet
As test of speed, therefore, the spin was value
less. But the Thistle exhibited no defects which
nautical critics could discover. She moved
through the water smoothly, making no fuss in
front and dragging no water astern. She stood
up well under her canvas. She showed no signs
Of tenderness And undeniably she presented q
handsome picture and looked like boat with
great deal OF "g0' in her; her long clipper stem
adding much to the speedness OF her appearance.
Preparations for the spin begun early.
The cover was taken of the mainsail at 2
o'clock and other sails were brought deck.
But not until the sailors began to "heavc short'
the starboard anchor at $3.50 did the watchers
ashore feel assured that the yacht was really
going to spread her canvas to the breeze and
show them her heels. The starboard anchor was
taken aboard at a quarter to TO- and Captain
Barr, who had been spending the night In New
York, was rowed to the Thistle i'm the dngy.
Then the sailors took things easy for O while,
Captain Barr apparently waiting for the breeze
to freshen. But it didn't freshen. and at III
o'clock the sailors began to hoist up the huge
mainsail. BY this time large crowd had
gathered on the landing, and the sight Of the
white canvas visiby expanding before them sent
a thrill of expectancy through them, which was
nothing, however, to what some Of them-espe-
cially those that have bets up-will feel when the
Thistle and Volunteer meet to fight it out for
the Americas Cup. The Scotch laddfes sung q
merry "shanty song" as they tugged at the hal
liards. Several of them clambcrcd up the ratlines
and with the dextcrity Of monkeys swung of into
the halliards, thus by sheer weight hauling up
the mansal. 1t didn't take long to get it up,
but It will be done much quicker when tho
Thistle has her racing complement of men on
board.
At :15 the working topsai was sent up, and
the jib, which had been sent up in stops, was
way telegram from j. Beavor Webb who is at
Bar Iarbor, was put aboard wishing her good
luck. The first anchor which had been previously
hove short taken aboard /; and then slowly at
first and in stately fashion the big Scotch cutter
began to move through the water. The wind was
blowing about seven eight miles hour from
the north, just enough to kick up lively srippIs
the water. The tide was at the last of tho
ebb. The cutter had set mainsail working top
sail and iib. Her cutter and gig-arge boats
both Of them-were hanging from her davits and
the dngy was towing astern 1t was evident that
the Thistle was not TO be put through the waters
at anything like racing speed. The Thistle stood
in shore for minute until she had gained enough
headway TO tack. 1t was observed then that tho
after leach of the mainsail Tapping little,
and that the tOpsail not shcctcd we'll home.
Nautical critics on shore exclaimed that they
didn't set well. But they too hasty. A
little later the mainsail was fiat board,
and there was not quivcr about 1t. And tho
topsail was drawing ~ well tOpsail can
draw. The after teaches of English mainsals
have bad habit Of Tapping in windward work,
the Genesta and Gaatca have shown, but
somehow the Thistles mainsail has been made to
behave better.
After going about the Thistle stood on the port
tack toward the Long Island shore. until she was
well out in midstream. setting her forestaysail
meanwhile. Notwithstanding the light wind and
the absence of the big clufto sail which she
would certainly have hOisted if she had been
racing, she moved through the water rapidly and
appeared to he pointing well. couple of TRIM
looking catboats that went of in pursuit OF hec
were dropped astcrn at great rate. or course
they had business tacliling such large game,
but the catboatman is ambitious
When midway between the two shores tho
Thistle caSed off her sheets for run through tho
Narrows. Doubtless Captain Barr cast n glance
over the tafrail and heavcd sigh of relief when
he saw that none of the big single sticlcrs at
Il. 49, ID.
intention to give chase TO him. Nov il she hal
been racing the huge silk spinnalcr would havo
come into play, and she would have been sight
10 behold, tearing along under hilOwy clouds Of
canvas. but il was Captain Parr diin't case
of his sheets enough TO bring tlIc mainsail square
TO the wind. When passing between Fl rt Wads-
worth and Fort Hamilton. an oyster boat which
had just begun TO run out drew up level with tho
big cutter and even gained on her for little
while. Then Captain Barr paid of his sheet u
bait more, and the oystcrynan had no longer the
story TO tell that he thought he would be able u
tell when he got back 10 New-Yorl<. The Thistle
sped along smoothly. getting occasional saluts
from saucy little tugs and srllcr blasts from big
excursion steamers. on IIofrman's Island she SEQ
her spinnalScr, but didn't keep it up long.
When Buoy No. reached the wind had
fallen light, Captain Barr gave up the idea oe
going over the whole inside and turned
back. IL beat beat, and the Thistle
proved remarkably quick in stays going about
in twenty-five seconds. Once when nearing tho
Narrows again she caught a puff OF wind thai
put her lee channels under water, showed the red
on her bottom and made her leap through tho
water like u high melted racer suddenly struck
with the whip. But it VAS only puff. and the
Thistle again resumed her gait. She lowered
her mansail when close TO the Long Island shore
and under jb and fJrestaysal stood away on the
starboard tack for her anchorage, dropping hce
anchor of Tompkinsvile u little after O'Clock.
Hundreds watched her heating in and were loud
I'm their praise. Even the most sanguinc sloop
enthusiast admitted that she walked through the
water like trout that IL would be hard to beat.
When the trip was finished Captain Barr said in
his auet way that he thought she had done very
well under the circumstances.
The Commercial Adrertisr yesterday devoted a
column and n half to a concealed contrivance"
IN the Thistles keel. (which. aside from her
lines and sail area. will materially increase her